Highest Poverty in North Carolina

Top 100 cities ranked by highest poverty

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Home Value Most Affordable Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities

All Countries · United States · North Carolina

Highest Poverty — North Carolina

1 Williamston 31.3%

2 Rockingham 30.7%

3 Forest City 29.6%

4 Laurinburg 29.0%

5 Selma 25.9%

6 Roxboro 25.7%

7 Mount Airy 24.4%

8 Morganton 24.3%

9 Smithfield 24.3%

10 Oxford 23.8%

11 Lumberton 23.3%

12 Hamlet 23.3%

13 Lexington 23.2%

14 Kinston 22.6%

15 Henderson 21.6%

16 Cullowhee 21.5%

17 Reidsville 21.4%

18 Roanoke Rapids 20.7%

19 Nashville 20.6%

20 Marion 20.5%

21 Siler City 20.2%

22 Tarboro 19.7%

23 Wilson 19.2%

24 Salisbury 19.1%

25 Spring Lake 18.6%

26 Albemarle 18.0%

27 Eden 17.2%

28 Clinton 17.1%

29 Sanford 16.8%

30 Rocky Mount 16.7%

31 Kings Mountain 16.4%

32 Thomasville 16.0%

33 Lincolnton 15.7%

34 Goldsboro 15.6%

35 Asheboro 15.6%

36 Burlington 15.4%

37 Statesville 15.0%

38 Shelby 15.0%

39 Dunn 14.9%

40 Graham 14.8%

41 Morehead City 14.6%

42 Brevard 14.6%

43 Fayetteville 14.5%

44 Kings Grant 14.4%

45 Washington 14.3%

46 St. Stephens 13.9%

47 Bessemer City 13.9%

48 Boone 13.7%

49 Greensboro 13.6%

50 Hope Mills 13.6%

51 Greenville 13.5%

52 Mocksville 13.2%

53 Sawmills 13.1%

54 Winston-Salem 13.0%

55 Havelock 12.9%

56 Cherryville 12.7%

57 East Flat Rock 12.6%

58 Half Moon 12.5%

59 Hickory 11.9%

60 Northchase 11.9%

61 Swannanoa 11.8%

62 New Bern 11.5%

63 Elizabeth City 11.5%

64 Anderson Creek 11.4%

65 Gastonia 11.2%

66 Hendersonville 11.2%

67 Conover 11.2%

68 Hampstead 11.1%

69 Monroe 11.0%

70 Ayden 10.9%

71 Waynesville 10.3%

72 Jacksonville 10.0%

73 High Point 9.9%

74 Pineville 9.9%

75 Piney Green 9.4%

76 Wilmington 8.9%

77 Mount Holly 8.5%

78 Charlotte 8.4%

79 Lenoir 8.4%

80 Newton 8.4%

81 Durham 8.1%

82 Kannapolis 8.0%

83 Silver Lake 7.9%

84 Wrightsboro 7.8%

85 Zebulon 7.7%

86 Carolina Beach 7.7%

87 Archer Lodge 7.6%

88 Mint Hill 7.5%

89 Etowah 7.4%

90 Asheville 7.3%

91 Kernersville 7.1%

92 Butner 7.1%

93 Spout Springs 7.0%

94 Raleigh 6.9%

95 Winterville 6.9%

96 Mooresville 6.8%

97 Southern Pines 6.8%

98 Oak Island 6.7%

99 Trinity 6.7%

100 Chapel Hill 6.6%

Cities with the highest poverty rates in North Carolina face deep economic challenges affecting a significant portion of their population. Williamston has a poverty rate of 31.3%.

High poverty rates impact communities in multiple ways: reduced access to healthcare and healthy food, lower educational outcomes, higher crime rates, and deteriorating infrastructure. These challenges are interconnected and require comprehensive solutions.

Addressing poverty in these cities requires a multi-pronged approach including economic development, affordable housing, quality education, healthcare access, and workforce training programs targeting underserved populations.

Did You Know?

1. In Williamston, 31.3% of residents — roughly 1 in 3 people — live below the poverty line.
2. Child poverty rates in these cities are often even higher than the overall rate, sometimes exceeding 40%.
3. Poverty is measured by household income relative to family size — the threshold varies from $15,060 for an individual to $31,200 for a family of four.

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